This past Saturday, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate magazine hosted the Matter of Taste wine event which was called a “no-holds barred tasting experience”. The reviewers of the wine magazine picked 180+ of their favorite iconic wines of the world and was one stop on a multi-city and multi-national event with a walkabout tasting of 90+ point wines.
The event was held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel located at 80 Columbus Circle on the Southwest corner of Central Park in Manhattan. With a sweeping view of Central Park, it was a perfect venue to spend the afternoon drinking some serious juice.
Some of what I enjoyed:
New World
2011 Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay “Trenton Roadhouse” (Sonoma Coast). Gold in color, honey, tropical fruit on the nose with tropical fruit notes on the finish.
2011 Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay “Vine Hill” (Sonoma Coast). Dark gold, toasty honey on the nose with tart, lemon-lime fruit.
2014 Signorello Estate Chardonnay “Hope’s Cuvée” (Napa Valley). Medium gold, white flowers and tropical fruit on the nose, moderate juicy with mango, papaya notes on the firm, balanced finish.
2005 Abreu Vineyards “Madrona Ranch” (Napa Valley). A Bordeaux blend, dark red with toasty, mint and slate on the nose, tight and concentrated with good grip on the long finish.
2012 Abreu Vineyards “Madrona Ranch” (Napa Valley). A Bordeaux blend, inky black, mint notes on the nose, juicy, still closed.
2012 Abreu Vineyards “Thorevilos” (Napa Valley). Inky black with dusty, smoky, black fruit on the nose, ripe and juicy with good balance.
2011 Bond “Pluribus”. (Napa Valley). Dark purple, dried herbs on the nose, silky and juicy with moderate tannin and acids at the end.
2013 Donelan Family Wines Syrah “Obsidian Vineyard”. (Knights Valley). Dark red to black with crushed red fruit on the nose, juicy red berries on the fruit.
2012 Donelan Family Wines Syrah “Walker Vine Hill”. (Russian River Valley). Black in color, crushed red fruit and roasted meat on the nose, chewy and dense with mint notes on the balanced finish.
2005 Calera Pinot Noir “Mills” (Mt. Harlan). Medium brick, nose of warm earth and cinnamon, tight with black licorice on the firm finish,.
2012 Calera Pinot Noir “Mills” (Mt. Harlan). Medium purple with fresh rosemary on the nose, red licorice on the moderate fruit, firm acids on the finish.
2013 Lail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Blueprint” (Napa Valley). Black in color, crushed slate on the nose, juicy crushed blueberry on the balanced finish.
2013 Lail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “J. Daniel Cuvée” (Napa Valley). Inky black, mint, crushed blueberry and black fruit on the nose, juicy and minty on the fruit.
2005 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon “Diamond Mt.” (Napa Valley). Inky black, dark, sweet crushed fruit on the nose, tar and graphite notes on the silky and juicy fruit.
2007 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon “Mount Veeder” (Napa Valley). Dark red to black, black cherry, violets and cigar box on the nose, silky, dusty, black rocks on the fruit, silky tannin, delicious fuzzy mouth feel.
2012 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon “Mount Veeder” (Napa Valley). Dark red to black, floral violets on the nose, silky red fruit followed by herbs with lip smacking tannin, tasty.
2012 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon “Nathan Coombs Estate” (Napa Valley). Dark red to black, cooked toasty fruit on the nose, dense, minty with crisp acids.
2012 Signorello Estate Cabernet Sauvignon “Padrone” (Napa Valley). Dark red, purple robe, sweet crushed red berry and graphite on the nose, juicy red berry fruit, structure a bit short.
2005 Vérité Cabernet Sauvignon “La Joie” (Sonoma County). Dark red to black, big nose of violet, cigar box, concentrated, medium fruit, tight with graphite notes with good acidity.
2012 Vérité Cabernet Sauvignon “La Joie” (Sonoma Coast). Inky black, purple robe, roasted meat and crushed dark berries on the nose, slate notes on the lip-smacking finish, nice balance.
2010 Henschke Shiraz “Hill of Grace”. (Australia). Dark red to black, juicy with very ripe fruit.
2012 Henschke Shiraz “Mount Edelstone” (Australia). Decanted, dark red to black, crushed black berries on the nose, juicy with crushed rock notes on the firm fruit, green herbs on the finish.
Old World
2009 Chateau Branaire-Ducru (St. Julien). Dark red to black, crushed dark berries and violets on the nose, tight, concentrated with silky tannin on the finish.
2005 Chateau Gazin (Pomerol). Dark red to black, perfume of dried herbs and crushed rocks, tight, dense, concentrated, firm and balanced.
2010 Chateau Haut-Bailly (Pessac-Leognan). Dark red with a delicate perfume of violets, silky fruit followed by big tannin and acids.
2009 Chateau La Fleur Petrus (Pomerol). Dark red with dusty black fruit and roast meat on the nose, dense with smoky crushed dark berries and rocks on the fruit, great balance.
2002 Chateau Leoville Barton (St. Julien). Medium amber with graphite and cigar box on the nose, tobacco notes on the nice, balanced finish.
2010 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (St. Julien). Dark purple, sweet red flowers on the nose, dense, silky with firm acids on the finish.
2008 Chateau Pichon Baron (Paulliac). Dark red, graphite on the nose, dusty, moderate fruit with nice tannins at the end.
2009 Chateau Pichon Baron (Paulliac). Dark red to black, graphite on the nose, slate notes on the moderate fruit, firm acids.
2009 Chateau Pontet-Canet (Paulliac). Dark purple with a brick robe, pretty nose of floral graphite and cigar box with silky graphite fruit, dusty tannins on the long finish, firm but balanced.
2012 M. Chapoutier “Ermitage Pavillon” (Rhone). Dark purple, roasted meat on the nose, crushed stone and dried herbs on the fruit.
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